Gazette 20/03/2026

Year to date 94%

We expect pupils to be in school everyday.

We will not authorise term time absence except in exceptional circumstances and where appropriate, Essex County Council will issue fines.

Classes:

RBC: 96.2%	3VB: 95.2%
RS: 93.2%	4A: 93.8%
1D: 92.3%	4L: 91.7%
1P: 95.7%	5R: 94.5%
2A: 98.1%	5/6P: 88.3%
2N: 88.1%	6CH: 97.6%
3MH: 91.7%

This week, the class with the highest attendance was 2A with 98.1%.  Well done!  The attendance reward will be coming your way.

 

Red Nose Day – Comic Relief

Thank you to everyone for your donations today, we raised £199.55.

Dogs on School Premises

Dogs are not permitted on the school site and should not be left unattended at the school gates due to allergies among pupils and staff.  Thank you for your understanding.

New Kayak and Canoe Club

Crowstone Canoe Club, a new not for profit club, are hiring Sweyne Park School’s pool and are offering one-hour taster sessions for all ages, introducing participants to kayaking, lifesaving skills, swimming and basic first aid.

-First session:£1.00pp (includes all equipment)

-Subsequent sessions:£5.00pp per session

The £5.00 session fee also includes full club membership for one year.  After the first year, membership can be renewed for £10.00 per year for those who wish to continue.

This is a great opportunity to try kayaking in a safe and supportive environment.  All equipment will be provided so you can simply come along and give it a go.

Please contact Tony Martin in the first instance – anthony_martin@sky.com

News from EYFS

This week in Reception, the children have been very excited to explore our topic of ‘Big Beasts’ -Dinosaurs!  They have thoroughly enjoyed drawing their own dinosaurs and have been developing their writing skills by adding labels to describe their creations.  We have also been learning about dinosaur fossils, carefully observing them and discussing what they can tell us about the past.  The children particularly enjoyed creating their own fossils using playdough, which was a fun and hands-on way to deepen their understanding.  In addition, we have been using language related to size to compare different dinosaurs, helping to build both vocabulary and understanding.

In Maths, the children have continued to develop their understanding of numbers to 10.  We have been learning about doubles to 10 and beginning to explore which numbers are odd and even.  Through the use of practical resources, the children have been learning that even numbers can be shared equally into two groups, while odd numbers cannot.  The children have shown great enthusiasm throughout and are becoming increasingly confident when working with numbers.

During PE, we have made the most of the sunshine by taking our learning outdoors.  The children have been practising their listening skills, following instructions carefully and responding promptly to signals.  They have also been developing their ability to travel safely and move into space within a larger outdoor environment, learning how to be aware of others around them.  It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they explore movement in a fun and active way.

News from the Resource Base

RB: Last week we were lucky enough to have an ex-pupil (Mr Gibbons) visit us, during our deaf studies lesson.  This week we reviewed and reflected on our experience.  The children asked a range of interesting questions linked to his life, growing up as a deaf child and his experience as a deaf adult.

RBH: This week the children have worked hard on their assessments.  As part of our assessments, in English the children have written their own story about their lost animal.  They also worked hard completing their reading and SPaG assessments.

In Maths, they completed their arithmetic and reasoning papers.  We also continued activities linked to multiplication, using repeated addition.

RBR: This week has been assessment week in RBR.  The children have worked incredibly hard and shown great focus and determination to do the best they can – we are very proud of their efforts.

We were then lucky to enjoy a well-deserved treat after such a busy and challenging start to the week – our visit to Colchester Zoo!  It was a wonderful experience for the children, giving them the opportunity to see a wide range of animals up close and deepen their understanding of habitats, conservation, and animal behaviour.  The trip also provided a fantastic chance for the children to develop their independence, social skills, and curiosity outside of the classroom.

RBN: The children have worked incredibly hard this week for their English and Maths assessments.  They have truly made you, themselves and us proud.  Keep up the hard work RBN.

We have also been reading The Creakers and The Woman Who Won Things.  This has allowed enjoyment of texts, having a go at reading and understanding more challenging texts and provided relaxation alongside learning after a busy week of testing.

Influential Figure – Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was a famous singer and performer who helped shape modern music.  Known as the “King of Rock and Roll,” he brought together different musical styles to create something new and exciting.  His music and performances were full of energy and helped bring people together.  Elvis’s story shows how sharing talents and creativity can have a lasting impact and inspire others around the world.

Music Moment

Our music moment this week was Elvis Presley – Hound Dog.